The last time Vontaze Burfict was on the field, he leaped into the stands at FedEx Field after returning an interception 62 yards for a touchdown. He also left that game early after a big hit that led to him being evaluated for a concussion and a back injury. He dressed for the Thursday night preseason finale in Indianapolis a few days later, but of course was never going to play.

After that, he was off – suspended by the NFL for the first three games of the season due to a hit delivered to Kansas City fullback Anthony Sherman.

A week after that preseason finale, the Bengals and Burfict agreed to a three-year contract extension that will keep the linebacker in Cincinnati through 2020.

In his first public comments since the suspension went into effect, Burfict said Wednesday he didn’t have any concerns about working out the deal even after the suspension was announced by the league.

“I don’t think that mattered,” Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said before the season started. “I think once they were involved in the process it’s hard for the team to go back and renege on that.”

“I think it’s great for the player and for the club,” Lewis said. “In Mike’s mind that helps him plan for the future for the team, knowing he has a spot somewhat solidified along with the other guys as things may go.”

Added Burfict: “It means a lot. Now we're in for four more years, so we're past it now. So now obviously just win some games.”

For Burfict, the deal also added an additional measure of support from the club, which has vociferously defended him through his various on-field issues with the league.

“I hope so,” he said. “I give my blood, sweat and tears out on the field. It's vice versa. I appreciate everything they do for me and my family and like I said, let's go get a win on Sunday.”

As for helping the team get its first win of the season, Lewis made it clear the Pro Bowler would play immediately against the Browns but allowed it may not be a full workload.

In 2015, after coming off the physically unable to perform list and missing the first six games of the year, Burfict played in 48 percent of the team’s snaps against Pittsburgh with 36.

Last year, after missing the first three games of the year due to suspension, he returned to play 76 percent of the snaps (34) against Miami.

“Don't know how many snaps I'll get on Sunday,” Burfict said. “I'm not sure if they'll throw me in hot water on Sunday and make me play the whole game, but I'm ready for whatever and whatever can help us win.”

Regardless of how many snaps the linebacker plays, he will bring a boost to a defense that is ranked No. 7 in the NFL in yards allowed and No. 9 in points – but his teammates have felt they’ve been just a few plays away from shutting opponents down.

“Yeah, we're that close,” Burfict said. “There are certain plays we're missing on and they're game-changing plays. So we've just got to clean up the little of errors we have, and we can go on a streak. Like I said, you've got to go one play at a time, one game at a time, one day at a time. So that's where we're at right now and we're on to Cleveland and just try to get a win.”

And as for how he will approach the game Sunday – and the rest of the season – Burfict addressed that back in late August when he was appealing the league’s original five-game suspension. Asked then if he would change his style of play, his answer was simple:

"Nope."

Tweet of the day

Well, of yesterday. When I thought it was today. Oy.

Anyone else having problems pulling up TNF on Amazon Prime? Won’t play on any device.